Break of Day in the Trenches
Dublin Core
Title
Break of Day in the Trenches
Subject
War Poetry by Isaac Rosenberg
Description
This draft of Break of Day In the Trenches was typed and set by Annie Rosenberg, possibly in June, while Isaac Rosenberg created the written annotations, likely in July.
Rosenberg’s earlier poetry betrays his Romantic influences. In “Break of Day in the Trenches,” Rosenberg describes a “queer sardonic rat” leaping over his hand as he pulls “the parapet’s poppy / to stick behind my ear” (4-6). Despite the threat of disease and harm which most rats posed in the trenches, this rat is deserting the trench for German lines, a deserter who is not punished. Rosenberg addresses the rat directly as he ponders how the young men in the trench are less likely to survive the war than the rat, who may come and go as he pleases. In this poem, Rosenberg’s poppy remains behind his ear, white with dust from the ground above the trench.
Rosenberg’s earlier poetry betrays his Romantic influences. In “Break of Day in the Trenches,” Rosenberg describes a “queer sardonic rat” leaping over his hand as he pulls “the parapet’s poppy / to stick behind my ear” (4-6). Despite the threat of disease and harm which most rats posed in the trenches, this rat is deserting the trench for German lines, a deserter who is not punished. Rosenberg addresses the rat directly as he ponders how the young men in the trench are less likely to survive the war than the rat, who may come and go as he pleases. In this poem, Rosenberg’s poppy remains behind his ear, white with dust from the ground above the trench.
Creator
Isaac Rosenberg
Date
June 1916 - July 1916
Rights
The Imperial War Museum/The Isaac Rosenberg Literary Estate
http://www.iwm.org.uk/
http://www.iwm.org.uk/
Collection
Citation
Isaac Rosenberg, “Break of Day in the Trenches,” Shellshock Popular Culture Archive, accessed May 19, 2024, https://shellshockpopularculturearchive.com/omeka/items/show/9.
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